Can you hear music you know so well in a different way? Especially when it comes from your favourite band?
The answer, in the case of three recent Blu-rays, is a yes.
RHINO Records, the stewards of Yes’ Atlantic Records catalogue, have been releasing multi-disc box sets of the band’s classic progressive era over the last few years; truth be told, as much of a die-hard fan as I am, the box sets didn’t hold huge appeal to me. The majority of the music they contained- edits and run-throughs- I have in other formats, and the material I don’t, specifically the live stuff, Rhino has been releasing separately on vinyl.
However, the net new stuff on all those big box sets is the Blu-ray discs, which contain Dolby Atmos mixes done by master mixer (and a prog icon himself), Steven Wilson. While you can stream The Yes Album, Fragile, and Close to the Edge in Dolby Atmos via your chosen streamer (Apple Music is mine), there is a big difference between streaming and playing a physical disc. Now, don’t ask me to explain the details, because I don’t know how to, but what I can tell you is this: listening to a Dolby Atmos mix on a Blu-ray disc sounds more immersive than when streaming. Perhaps that is just one of the reasons physical media is starting to make a comeback.
RHINO Records has done a very smart thing by releasing the Blu-ray discs found in their first three Yes box sets separately. A lot of Yes fans may have been hesitant to shell out significant money for the box sets, which, while packed to the gills with music, are also expensive, especially for a fan base that has already bought these albums. However, for anyone wanting the Blu-rays of these various versions, the price is significantly lower. In the case of Fragile and Close to the Edge, you’re also getting not just those albums in a variety of surround sound versions, but you’re also getting the instrumentals as well. Those two discs also come with an animated home screen while playing, making you feel a little like you’re watching Roger Dean’s artwork come to life.
While there are no liner notes or extra photos on these discs (you’ve got to get the big boxes for those), for a fan looking to be immersed in albums with all the beautiful production that went into them, there’s no better way to listen than on Blu-ray.
You can order The Yes Album on Blu-ray here.
You can order Fragile on Blu-ray here.
You can order Close to the Edge on Blu-ray here.
